Address
Form of workChief External Affairs Officer
PRIMARY POSITION PURPOSE
The Chief External Affairs Officer (CXO) visions, steers, and oversees the implementation of strategies to elevate the GTU’s public-facing profile, deepen engagement with all key constituencies, broaden the reach and impact of all outreach efforts, and fortify and grow a strong network across a diverse array of constituencies and stakeholders. Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the GTU’s Executive Leadership Team, the CXO fosters collaborative relationships with the Board of Trustees, fellow ELT members, faculty, staff, partners, and other stakeholders while effectively leading a department spanning marketing and communications, recruitment, and GTUx, the GTU’s digital learning platform, to ensure the various needs and strategic goals of the institution are being met. Provide hands-on involvement in all areas of responsibility as needed.
The salary range for this position is $155,000 to $165,000. This position is hybrid with at least 2 days per week in the office.
ESSENTIAL/PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
EXECUTIVE DUTIES
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team:
- Actively paticipate in policy decisions, budget formulation, institutional and accreditation reviews, and strategic planning.
- Support executives in key communications to ensure consistent and effective messaging.
- Advise and support the President, including on messaging and content creation and presentation, in interactions with internal and external audiences, including but not limited to GTU's constituencies, members of the media, supporters & alums, and general public.
- Author executive communications, internal and external statements on behalf of President as requested.
- Work with the Board of Trustees Liaison to provide quarterly reports on the following:
- Engagement and outreach efforts and trends
- Recruitment efforts
- GTUx growth efforts and business plan pivot points
- Lead the visioning and implementation of strategies to develop new audiences, helping to expand GTU’s network of learners, partners, ambassadors, advocates, and supporters.
- Collaborate with team members to develop comprehensive set of annual and multi-year strategic plans to support overall strategic goals of the GTU’s 5-Year Plan. Identify, track, and measure relevant OKRs and KPIs, guiding strategic pivots as needed based on performance of initiatives.
- Provide leadership in the creation, streamlining, and maintenance of systems and infrastructure needed to support department level marketing and communication initiatives in line with institutional brand, priorities, and policies.
- Assure compliance with governmental regulations, and industry standards in areas under the purview of the CXO.
- Encourage excellence among the staff and promote an organizational culture of service, professionalism and continuous improvement.
- Carry-out other duties as may be assigned from time-to-time by the President or Board.
MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS
- Serve as leading champion and manager of GTU’s brand voice and identity, across all channels, modalities, and arenas to ensure consistent, sophisticated brand awareness, affinity and identity. Ensure appropriate usage of GTU brand across all properties, channels, and outreach.
- Serve as institutional spokesperson as needed and lead all aspects of crisis communications response as necessary.
- Manage network of external vendors to support key marketing functions, including but not limited to web development and design, graphic design, videography and photography, copywriting, market research, etc.
- Lead creative development and paid media planning for key initiatives.
- Stays abreast of industry trends and best practices to make strategic recommendations for the acquisition and implementation of new outlets. Learns new programs and tools as necessary and provides relevant trainings.
- Actively manage Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, including oversight of project management, performance reporting, analysis, and optimization, and campaign development for a wide array of audiences in keeping with institutional priorities.
- Serve as leading champion and manager of GTU’s brand voice and identity, across all channels, modalities, and arenas to ensure consistent, sophisticated brand awareness, affinity and identity.
- Together with Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications, provide creative direction on key initiatives and deliverables across relevant business units to ensure consistent and impactful brand expression.
GTUx
- Lead business development and growth for GTUx to scale in meeting strategic goals for GTU, effectively serving as chief executive of GTU's new digital learning platform.
- Together with Senior Director of GTUx, oversee content planning, development, and launch process, as well as guide the product and platform roadmap.
- Personally conduct outreach to prospective and current partners, stewarding and growing partner, sponsor, and advertiser program.
- Partner with Senior Director of GTUx to produce quarterly business reviews and performance reports for Board of Trustees. Actively engage with Board committees to share relevant learnings and performance data from GTUx as requested, including Advancement, Academics, and others.
- Establish close teamwork and communication with the Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
RECRUITMENT
- Collaborate with Director of Recruitment to oversee implementation of strategies to grow GTU’s pool of prospective students and set recruitment benchmarks annually.
- Provide active guidance on adoption of best practices, tools, and systems for enhancement and growth of prospective student pipeline.
- Assume ultimate accountability for pipeline performance and accountability from inquiry to application submission.
- Ensure effective collaboration with academic centers, admissions and financial aid, and marketing.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
EDUCATION
MBA, or closely related degrees preferred and educational background or experience sufficient to equal this background.
EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 10 years of related professional experience of progressive responsibility in digital marketing/communications, strategy, and/or business management capacity.
- Proven track record of developing, launching, and scaling strategic plans, with definable results that demonstrably led to fulfillment of key organizations growth goals.
- Fluency in industry best practices across full portfolio of sectors represented within the department of Marketing and Outreach.
- Experience in EdTech, Online Learning, Video Production in an educational context.
- Commitment to professional development and market research to remain ahead of market trends.
- Experience actively leading a highly collaborative and multifaceted, cross-functional team, and providing the vision, feedback, coaching and mentorship necessary to ensure high-level of performance and success. Effective management of designated support staff and vendors.
PREREQUISITE SKILLS
- Exceptional writer, editor, and creative visionary for all media, including print, web, email, social media, etc.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (365 and Sharepoint preferred), CRM (Element 451 preferred), CMS applications (WordPress preferred), and project management software (Asana preferred). Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (Pathwright preferred) a plus. Willingness to learn new systems as required by role.
- Proficiency using performance analysis tools across a suite of measurement tools, such as G4, Meta Business Suite, etc., as well as collecting and interpreting in-app/platform analytics, and ability to deliver timely, actionable reports.
- Demonstrated ability to cull and apply market insights and performance outcomes to the development of new strategic plans, as well as optimization and pivot strategies for plans in flight.
- Systems and process-oriented thinker.
- Willing to expand and grow with the organization.
- Outstanding emotional intelligence, with a collegial and consultative work style.
- Willingness to accept feedback and suggestions.
- Ability to present, influence, persuade and respond in a diplomatic way.
- Ability to work in and contribute to a team-oriented environment.
